CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns didn't cite diminishing skills this time, but they ousted former quarterback Bernie Kosar for the second time in his career here.

This time, they removed him as their color analyst for preseason games on WKYC and replaced him with veteran commentator Solomon Wilcots.

The shakeup comes after Kosar rankled Rams coach Jeff Fisher and others last summer with his harsh criticism during the Browns preseason opener Aug. 8th against the Rams.

The comments were so biting that Sports Illustrated's Peter King asked Kosar in a tweet if he had been drinking, and Fisher called Kosar out for his remarks, saying that his issues have been well-documented.

Former Browns CEO Joe Banner publicly reprimanded Kosar for his comments, but kept him on the remaining three games. Kosar stood by his commentary, but ultimately apologized to Fisher.

It was an embarrassing episode for the Browns, and it spelled the beginning of the end for Kosar in the booth with play-by-play man Jim Donovan, where they had been together since 2006.

Still, it was a tough decision for the club and for WKYC, because Kosar is still revered by so many here and remained popular on the broadcasts for his insightful and in-depth analysis.

Knowing there'd be a backlash, the club and WKYC were quick to point out that they're not turning their back on the often troubled former star, who's been treated for post-concussion syndrome.

The Browns are in discussions with Kosar on potential new roles, which could include segments on ClevelandBrowns.com, Cleveland Browns Daily on WKNR-850 AM, and the Browns Radio Network. Kosar also could be part of the pregame telecasts for preseason games.

“Once again we look forward to continuing our tradition of broadcasting Cleveland Browns preseason football,” said Brooke Spectorsky, president and general manager of WKYC-TV in a statement released by the club. “We’ve added Solomon Wilcots to our broadcast team as color analyst. At the same time, we wanted to explore having Bernie’s presence with our broadcast team, possibly providing analysis during the pregame show with various segments throughout the preseason.”

Wilcots, who will serve as color commentator alongside WKYC’s Jim Donovan, the Voice of the Browns since 1999, is a regular-season analyst for the NFL on CBS, having called six Browns games in 2013 and 11 over the past three seasons. A former color commentator for New Orleans Saints preseason telecasts, he also hosts a daily show on SiriusXM NFL Radio, and serves as a studio analyst for NFL Network. Before launching his broadcast career in 1994, Wilcots played six NFL seasons.

“We look forward to again having WKYC as our preseason broadcast partner,'' Browns president Alec Scheiner said in a statement. "We welcome Solomon and are excited to look further into additional opportunities to continue to engage Bernie with our fans. We want Browns fans to look forward to seeing and hearing his continued contributions and analysis on not only our preseason telecasts, but also our radio network and ClevelandBrowns.com.”

Kosar has been controversial here for far more than that fateful Rams game.

While few can argue with his uncanny ability to anticipate or dissect a play, he sometimes slurred his words on the air and lost his focus. Kosar, who has admitted to using alcohol and painkillers over the years to deal with his post-football issues, attributes much of his spaciness to the concussion syndrome that has plagued him since his playing days.

In 2012, he engaged in a rambling, incoherent, weeping discourse on ESPNCleveland, and in 2013, a month after his Rams rant, he was arrested in Solon on suspicion of driving under the influence. A few months later, he revealed that he was undergoing new and innovative treatments for his post-concussion syndrome that were saving his life.

But it was the Rams debacle that seems to have doomed him. During that broadcast, Kosar ripped the Rams receivers, third-string quarterback Kellen Clemens and receivers coach Ray Sherman. At one point, after Donovan told a story about Clemens giving an autograph to the Pope, Kosar said he wouldn't want that autograph and added, "Bless me father for I have sinned. I have to watch him the whole fourth quarter."

He added, "I can't stand watching him play.''

Fisher shot back two days later, saying "Bernie's got his issues; they're well documented. Kellen played well, he played hard, he made plays."

He went on to say, "First off, let me say this: The Cleveland Browns' organization is a first-class organization from top to bottom and it has been that for years and years and years," Fisher said. "I guess I'm a little disappointed. I feel bad for them that they had someone doing their broadcast feel the need to speak that way about players, specifically on our team and coaches for that matter.

"I'm just surprised that Bernie has such a lack of respect for players and this game. To be honest with you, I lost a lot of respect for him. It's highly unlikely he knew anything about our football team, but felt the need to make those comments. I don't think they were justified."

The Browns considered yanking Kosar off the broadcast last year, but opted to keep him for the final three games. In a statement, Banner said, “We don't condone the personal and unprofessional approach that Bernie took with some of his comments during the broadcast Thursday night. We’ve spoken to Bernie, he understands that, and we would expect the situation is resolved moving forward. We’ve also reached out to the Rams organization and have shared those same sentiments."

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